Friday, March 4, 2011

Continuing the "I'm thirty" in 2011 theme....

I didn’t hear a single reference to March Forth today. Poo. Well, I have ONE MORE DAY until my responsibility level at Papa John's changes dramatically. This week has been quite the emotional journey for me. Not in a bad way, by any means, but just because of the confrontation of the "it's not my problem" mentally. That doesn't mean, by the way, that my work ethic has decreased or that I'm gonna let the place burn. It just means that I'm not directly in the line of fire. Having someone else do the schedule, even with my help, was probably the toughest. But even tonight.... Friday nights are the highest volume nights every week, but as we made our way through tonight - staying productive, keeping ahead, watching service, running labor - it was a strange feeling to realize that I was simply a "helper" in the service of one upon whose shoulders it all actually fell. Well, moving on, I still have plenty on my plate. Bethany and I looked at a used Town & Country van today. It's nice; we'll do a little more research, but we might ending getting it. We certainly need a van with Number Three on the way. I also have lots of Papa John's stuff at the house and on my computer that I need to gather up and give to Tony. A clean break is best. Sometimes during the week I've wondered, "Are we overwhelming him with this much responsibility, information, and material?" And then I remember: that's not my problem. I'm here to SUPPORT and HELP, but the ultimate task is his. Undoubtedly, some of it will take time; he won't be a carbon copy of Josh Smith, and, in fact, that's why he should do better than me - he brings his own strengths to the table, while having my entire repertoire at his disposal. Completely unrelated - this is stream-of-consciousness, so it's allowed - George Martin's series, A Song of Ice and Fire, finally has a date set for it's fifth book: June 12, 2011! That's exciting, because it's been like five years since book four. BUT, due to that length of time, I'll have to reread the other four before picking up A Dance with Dragons anyway. And of course, there's the Wheel of Time, which I'm currently rereading; I'm in the middle of The Dragon Reborn (Book 3) right now. The final book in the series, Book 14: A Memory of Light, is scheduled for release at the end of this year, so I want to be ready! Is that a decaquadrilogy? tetrakiskaidekilogy? Hmm. So yeah, lots of good books, games, and movies are coming out this year. I have list on my desktop computer (I'm on the laptop right now). The top of the list is going to be The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Go look at the trailer and weep at how awesome it looks. Marvel has some good movies due out this year, including Captain America, Thor, and X-Men: Origins. I could keep going, but the point is, there are lots of entertaining distractions being released upon the world this year. I can't tell you what it feels like to imagine watching a movie in the theater without worrying about how it will cut into my (previously) limited non-work time. Bethany and I have already planned (or at least discussed) plans to visit Dad, the Swamp Park, the Jax Zoo, and Mama B, all in addition to the big trip to New England we're taking with her parents at the end of this month. And the coolest part is knowing that there's no life-consuming responsibility here at home that will prevent us from doing those things and more! Tomorrow should be a good day; it'll be full of training with Tony, and being his "back up" as he handles a (hopefully) busy day. I am going to spend some time with the crew talking about training plans to help get some folks raises, and I'm gonna start sorting files on the computer so they'll be available for Tony next week. At home, I'll gather up Papa John's stuff to give him on Monday. And then I think I'll be able to wash my hands of it, and going forward will only have to deal with work when I'm AT WORK. What a concept! By the way, if I sound bitter, I truly don't mean to be! I'm excited, but not resentful. Gonna read some Wheel of Time now before I go to sleep. Will babble even more tomorrow.